Co-occurring posttraumatic stress and substance use: Emerging research on correlates, mechanisms, and treatments-Introduction to the special issue.

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) are complex psychiatric conditions that commonly co-occur. Despite the well-established prevalence of this diagnostic comorbidity, much less is known about underlying etiological and maintenance processes or most effective treatment avenues. The comorbidity is complex, difficult to treat, and marked by a more costly and chronic clinical course, when compared with either disorder alone. Therefore, this Special Issue is devoted to highlighting recent, theory-driven, scientifically rigorous, and clinically applicable advances in our understanding of the PTSD-SUD comorbidity across various populations. Emerging psychological science on PTSD-SUD is profiled, and biological, psychological, and social processes implicated in etiology and maintenance are highlighted along with promising innovations in treatment. The articles range in methodology from more basic to applied, exemplifying a translational spectrum of research as each article presents meaningful clinical implications and future research directions. This introductory article describes the articles in this Special Issue and how they can inform the field. (PsycINFO Database Record